"What's Next" - Young Tenant Stands Firm Against Property Manager's Request For Help With 5-Minute Chore

" I don't want to feel like I'm 15 and living with my mom and have chores."

Damjan

• Published in Interesting
• July 27, 2024

Living in an apartment can be a rewarding experience. Still, it often comes with challenges, particularly when maintaining clear boundaries between tenants and property managers.

Understanding and managing these boundaries is essential for creating a harmonious living environment. A recent situation involving a tenant and a property manager highlights the importance of these boundaries and raises questions about the roles and responsibilities in apartment living.

The OP, who has lived in an apartment in a seven-unit building for four years, is known for being a responsible tenant, paying his rent a week early every month.

The property manager, "Jane," has some time off from her day job and has been dealing with personal issues, including a dispute with another property manager over a man they both like.

This other property manager told Jane not to place the building's trash cans against the wall of her building, even though the alley is not private property and the trash cans need to be there for collection. To avoid conflict, Jane agreed and moved the cans to an empty driveway.

Recently, Jane mentioned that she has a bad back and asked OP if he could help move the five trash cans back and forth. OP refused, stating that he is a tenant, not a handyman, and does not want to take on additional responsibilities.

He expressed concern about being drawn into unnecessary drama and feeling like he had chores, similar to living with his mother.

Jane tried to persuade OP, mentioning that he was a big, strong guy and she was always working hard to make the building a nice place to live. However, OP stood firm, explaining that it's not about the physical effort but the principle of the matter.

He worried about being asked to do more tasks in the future, like washing the cans or sweeping the alley, and the potential complications if he went on vacation. Overall, OP felt insulted by the request, comparing it to being asked for a tip.

The OP rents an apartment in a 7-unit building and always pays his rent a week early; recently, the property manager, Jane, has been involved in personal conflicts.

The other property manager asked Jane not to place the trash cans against their building, so she moved them to an empty driveway to avoid conflict.

Jane asked if OP could help move some cans because of her bad back, but OP refused, saying it's not his responsibility as a tenant and he doesn't want to feel like he is doing chores.

She mentioned that she worked hard to maintain the building and asked for a favor, but OP declined, saying it was a bad idea and he didn't want any drama.

OP feels insulted by being asked to do extra tasks, likening it to being asked for a tip.

OP should ask if she'll lower his rent during the work.

The OP is justified in preventing the tenant from exploiting him.

She is being unprofessional by trying to delegate her responsibilities to unpaid tenants, which could lead to further issues and unwarranted accusations.

It's not OP's job to move the cans.

OP shouldn't do it—it's a liability issue.

OP should avoid forming friendly relationships with his property manager, landlord, or neighbors and report suspicious activities legally.

The OP is right to avoid getting involved, as it could lead to unfairly burdening him with tasks that aren't his responsibility.

OP shouldn't accept her request.

OP could say, "Just this once," if she asks again, instead of turning it into a more significant issue.

OP made the right decision by refusing to move the trash cans for the property manager. It's not part of his responsibilities; agreeing to it could open the door to more tasks and potential problems. The property manager's request oversteps professional boundaries, and OP should maintain a professional relationship with her and other neighbors.

Helping out once might seem like no big deal, but it could set a bad precedent. OP needs to protect his own boundaries and not take on tasks that aren't his responsibility. Keeping these boundaries clear helps ensure a fair and respectful living environment for everyone.

Damjan